The Callahan Tunnel

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Callahan Tunnel To Close Until March

Drivers who use the Callahan Tunnel to get to Logan International Airport and East Boston will need to find a new route for the next several months.

The tunnel is slated to close at 11 p.m. on Friday for the first phase of a $35 million rehabilitation project. The closure is expected to last until March 12.

Alternative routes include the Ted Williams tunnel, Route 16 and Route 1A, the Tobin Bridge and the South Boston Bypass. The Sumner Tunnel, which carries traffic from the airport back to downtown Boston, will remain open during the closure of the Callahan.

State transportation officials encourage travelers to use public transportation. The MBTA is adding an extra bus to the Silver Line and another train to the Blue Line. The Bowdoin Station will stay open longer, from 5:15 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. They are also urging people to use the MBTA or other services such as Logan Express buses to get to the airport.

The Callahan Tunnel is 52 years old and last year a wall panel fell, prompting state officials to conduct a review. Construction will include new wall panels, air vents and a deck. The tunnel runs underneath Boston Harbor and carries about 30,000 cars on an average weekday.